Every society rests in the last resort on the recognition of common principles and common ideals, and if it makes no moral or spiritual appeal to the loyalty of its members, it must inevitably fall to pieces.
Christopher DawsonRead
We have entered a new phase of culture - we may call it the Age of the Cinema - in which the most amazing perfection of scientific technique is being devoted to purely ephemeral objects, without any consideration of their ultimate justification. It seems as though a new society was arising which will acknowledge no hierarchy of values, no intellectual authority, and no social or religious tradition, but which will live for the moment in a chaos of pure sensation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the influence of cinema in modern culture, where fleeting experiences take precedence over traditional values and authority.
Christopher Dawson's quote suggests that we are in an era dominated by cinema, where advanced scientific techniques are utilized to create work that is often temporary and lacks deeper significance. This shift indicates a society that prioritizes immediate gratification and sensory experiences over established hierarchies and intellectual or ethical frameworks, leading to a cultural landscape characterized by chaos and a focus on the present moment rather than lasting values.
Themes
CinemaCultureValuesSocietySensation
In practice
Example use cases
During a film festival, discussing the impact of cinema on cultural values.
More from Christopher Dawson
All quotes →It is true that Christianity is not bound up with any particular race or culture. It is neither of the East or of the West, but has a universal mission to the human race as a whole
Christopher DawsonRead
Similar quotes
Hip-hop has done more for race relations than most cultural icons; and I say save Martin Luther King, because his 'I Have A Dream' speech was realized when Obama was elected into office.
Jay-ZRead
Every generation wants to be the last. Every generation hates the next trend in music they can't understand. We hate to give up those reins of our culture. To find our own music playing in elevators. The ballad for our revolution, turned into background music for a television commercial. To find our generation's clothes and hair suddenly retro.
Chuck PalahniukRead
Spain is a fascinating mix of people, languages, culture and food, but if there is one thing all Spaniards share, it's a love of food and drink.
Jose AndresRead
African-Americans are not a monolithic group. So, we tend to talk about the black community, the black culture, the African-American television viewing audience, but there are just as many facets of us as there are other cultures.
Malcolm-Jamal WarnerRead
Hip-hop gave a generation a common ground that didn't require either race to lose anything; everyone gained.
Jay-ZRead
We also want to try and slow down all this foolishness that's going on between the East and West. We gotta understand that Hip Hop is now universal. Hip Hop is not East coast or West coast.
Afrika BambaataaRead